Pump for pressure burner



March 19, 1957 c. BRAMMING PUMP FOR PRESSURE BURNER Filed Dec. 22, 195411y VEN TOR.-

United States Patent PUNIP FOR PRESSURE BURNER Carl Brammiug, Nashviile,Tenu., assignor to Aladdin Industries, Incorporated, Nashville, Tenn., acorpora tion of Illinois Application December 22, 1954, Serial No. 476,987

6 Claims. (Cl. 230-160) This invention relates to a new and improvedpump which is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, usefulin connection with a pressure burner and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pump adaptedto compress air in a tank for a pressure burner or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the foregoingcharacter which is operable by force exerted by a single finger or thumbof the operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved burner or"the foregoing character in which the single finger or thumb, employed bythe operator to operate the pump, cooperates with elements of the pumpto form an air intake valve.

A further object is to provide an improved pump which is easily operatedyet is effective and extremely dependable.

It is another object to provide an improved pump which is extremelysimple in construction and low in cost, yet is durable and trouble-free.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary pump,constituting an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of the pump;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a resilient bellows elementembodied in the exemplary pump; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a liner for the bellows of Fig. 3.

If the drawings are considered in greater detail, it will be seen thatthey illustrate an air pump 11 adapted to pressurize a tank 12, whichmay be the fuel tank for a pressure burner or the like (not shown). Todefine an expansible and contractible pump chamber 13, the pump 11 isprovided with a resilient generally tubular bellows member 14 made ofnatural or synthetic rubber, or some other resilient rubber-likematerial. The expansible and contractible pump chamber 13 is furtherdefined by a rigid member 15 serving as a valve housing, as will shortlybe explained in detail. The valve housing 15 is mounted, in thisinstance, in a pump casing 16 which itself is mounted on the tank 12.

To receive the pump 11, an aperture 17 is formed in the upper wallportion of the tank 12. A bushing 18 is rigidly mounted in the aperture17 to receive the pump casing 16, which is of generally cup-shaped formin the present case. Thus the casing 16 comprises a cylindrical sidewall portion 19 provided with an integral lower wall or end flange 20.An axial aperture 21 is formed in the lower wall 26 to receive the valvehousing 15.

To form a seal between the pump casing 16 and the bushing 18, an annulargasket 22 is mounted in a groove or channel 23 defined by a flange 24which is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical side wall 19. Inthis instance, the flange 24 is of inverted L-shaped form and hence isprovided with a radial portion 25 and a depend- 2,785,852 Patented Mar.19, 1957 'ice ing portion 26. The gasket 22 is of generally rectangularcross section to fit between the L-shaped flange and the side wall 19. Arounded upper edge 27 is formed on the bushing 18 to seat against thelower face of the gasket 22.

The pump casing 16 is retained in the bushing 18, in the illustratedconstruction, by means of a cup-shaped collar or cap 23 having agenerally cylindrical skirt portion 29 which is provided with internalthreads 30 adapted to mate with an externally threaded portion 31 on thebushing. By tightening the collar 28, the casing 16 is clampeddownwardly with the gasket 22 seated against the upper end of thebushing 18. It will be seen that the collar 28 is formed with a top wallor flange 32 having an axial aperture 33 to admit the upper end of thebellows member 14.

In order that the bellows member 14 may be collapsed longitudinally tocontract the pump chamber 13, the bellows member is formed with a lowergenerally cylindrical side wall portion 34 having a plurality of annularconvolutions or corrugations 35. An inturned annular mounting flange 36is provided at the lower end of. the bellows member 14. This mountingflange 36 is adapted to be clamped between the lower wall 20 of the pumpcasing 16 and a downwardly facing shoulder 37 formed on the generallytubular valve housing 15, which is re-' ceived within the lowercorrugated portion of the bellows member. In this instance the shoulder37 is provided by an external flange 38 formed on the valve housing 15.Below the flange 38, the valve housing 15 has a cylindrical portion 39extending through an axial aperture 40, defined by the flange 36 on thebellows member 14. Below the flange 36, the cylindrical portion 39extend into the aperture 21 in the lower wall 20 of the casing 16.

The valve housing 15 is drawn downwardly against the flange 36 on thebellows member 14 by means of a tubular retaining element 41. A head orflange 42 is formed on the lower end of the retaining element 41 forengagement with the underside of the lower wall 20. External threads 43on the tubular retaining member 41 are adapted to mate with internalthreads 44 formed in the valve housing 15. An axial air outlet passage45 extends through the retainer 41.

At the upper end of the bellows element 14, the corrugated lower wallportion 34 is surmounted by a substantially cylindrical upper wallportion 46 which projects through the cap 28 and thus acts a a manuallyoperable piston or plunger. An external shoulder 47 is formed on thecylindrical wall portion 46 to engage the lower side of the cap 28 andthereby limit upward expansion of the bellows member 14. It will beunderstood that the inherent resiliency of the corrugated lower wallportion 34 tends to bias the bellows member upwardly.

Within the bellows member 14, the upper cylindrical wall portion 46 isreinforced by a rigid, generally cylindrical liner 46 which may be madeof metal. An integral external flange 49 is formed on the lower end ofthe liner to retain the liner within the bellows 14 against longitudinalmovement. It will be seen that an internal annular groove 50 is formedin the bellows member 14 just below the shoulder 47 to receive theflange 49. The liner 48 fits snugly within the cylindrical side wallportion 46 of the bellows member 14.

At the upper end of the bellows member 14, the cylindrical side wallportion 46 is surmounted by an end wall 51 engageable by a single digitof the operator. The cup-shaped depression or recess 52 is formed in thetop of the end wall 51 to receive the digit.

To admit air to the expansible and contractible pump chamber 13, aninlet port 53 is arranged to extend through the top wall 51 of thebellows member 14, the port being axially disposed in the top wall inthis instance. It will be understood that the port 53 is adapted to beclosed by the operators digit when the bellows member 14 is engaged andpushed downwardly by the operator. Thus the operators digit preventsescape of air through the inlet port 53, with the result that the digitcooperates with the port and the end wall 51 to form an inlet valve.When the bellows member 14 has been fully depressed and the digit iswithdrawn from the end wall 51, the inlet port 53 is opened so that airmay enter the pump chamber 13. The bellows member 14 returns upwardly byvirtue of the inherent resiliency of the corrugated lower wall portion34.

It will be seen that the liner 48 is adapted to be loosely received overa cylindrical surface 54 on the outside of the valve housing 15. Thusthe action of the liner and the valve housing guides the bellows member14 in its upward and downward movement.

Compressed air passes out of the pump chamber 13 through an air outletport 55 defined by an internal fiange 56 at the upper end of the valvehousing 15. The air passes through the hollow valve housing and the airpassage 45 in the retainer 41 and thence into the tank 12.

To prevent return of air from the tank into the pump chamber 13, a checkvalve 57 is provided within the valve housing 15. It will be seen thatthe illustrated check valve is cylindrical in shape and is provided witha discshaped sealing member 58 seated in a recess 59 formed in the upperend of the valve 57. The sealing member 58 is adapted to seat against aconically shaped valve seat 59 formed on the lower side of the flange56. The check valve 57 is biased upwardly toward the seat 59 by means ofa compression spring 60 disposed between the valve 57 and the retainingelement 41.

When the operator applies his finger or thumb to the upper end of thebellows member 14 and pushes downwardly, the inlet port 53 is closed bythe digit and the outlet valve 57 is unseated by the pressure developedin the chamber 13 as the bellows is collapsed longitudinally. At thebottom of the stroke, the operator releases his finger or thumb from thebellows member 14 so as to open the inlet port 53 and permit the bellowsmember to return upwardly by its own resiliency. It will be recognizedthat the arrangement of the inlet port is such as to eliminate any needfor an inlet valve.

The illustrated pump comprises a minimum number of parts and isextremely simple in construction. Accordingly, the entire pump may bemanufactured at a minimum cost. Moreover, the pump may be made extremelysmall in size. Nevertheless, the pump is capable of developing severalpounds per square inch of pressure in the tank 12 and hence is ideallysuited for use on a pressure burner, Where even a few ounces of pressurewill usually suflice. The pump is thoroughly dependable, leak-proof andtrouble-free.

Various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may beemployed without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as exemplified in the foregoing description and defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A pump adapted to be mounted on an externally threaded bushing, saidpump comprising a generally cupshaped pump casing adapted to be receivedwithin said bushing and having an outwardly and downwardly extendinggenerally inverted L-shaped annular flange on the upper end of saidcasing defining a downwardly facing channel therearound, a gasket ringin said channel and adapted to engage the upper end of said bushing, aninternally threaded cap adapted to be received on the upper end of saidbushing for clamping said casing downwardly with said gasket againstsaid bushing, a resilient rubberlike tubular bellows member receivedwithin said casing and having a lower side wall portion with a pluralityof annular corrugations, said bellows member having an inturned annularflange at its lower end, a tubular valve housing received within saidlower side wall portion and having an outwardly extending flangeadjacent its lower end, said pump casing having a lower wall with anaxial aperture, a tubular retaining member extending through saidaperture in said pump casing and threaded into the lower end of saidvalve housing and having a head engaging the lower side of said lowerwall to draw said valve housing downwardly and thereby clamp saidinturned flange of said bellows member between said lower wail and saidoutwardly extending flange of said valve housing, said valve housinghaving an upper end wall with an axial outlet port therethrough, a checkvalve member within said valve housing and movable over the lower end ofsaid port, a spring between said check valve member and said retainingmember for biasing said check valve member toward its closed positionover said port, said cap having a top wall with an axial aperturetherethrough, said rubber-like bellows member having a generallycylindrical upper side wall portion extending through said aperture insaid cap and surmounted by an upper end wall portion, said upper sidewall portion having an external flange engageable with said cap to limitupward expansion of said bellows member, and a rigid tubular linerreceived within said upper side wall portion and receivable over saidvalve housing, said upper end wall portion of said bellows member havingan axial valve aperture adapted to be closed by a digit of the operatorin pushing said bellows member downwardly.

2. A pump, comprising a generally cylindrical pump casing, a resilientrubber-like tubular bellows member received within said casing andhaving a lower side wall portion with a plurality of annularcorrugations, said bellows member having an inturned annular flange atits lower end, a tubular valve housing received within said lower sidewall portion and having a downwardly facing shoulder adjacent its lowerend, said pump casing having a lower wall with an axial aperture, saidpump casing having upper wall means with an axial opening therein, atubular retaining member extending through said axial aperture in saidlower wall of said pump casing and threaded into the lower end of saidvalve housing and having a head engaging the lower side of said lowerwall to draw said valve housing downwardly and thereby clamp saidinturned flange of said bellows member between said lower wall and saidshoulder, said valve housing having an upper end wall with an axialoutlet port therethrough, a check valve member within said valve housingand movable over the lower end of said port, a spring between said checkvalve member and said retaining member for biasing said check valvemember toward its closed position over said port, said rubber-likebellows member having a generally cylindrical upper side wall portionextending through said axial opening in said upper wall means andsurmounted by an upper end wall portion, and a rigid tubular linerreceived within said upper side wall portion and receivable over saidvalve housing, said upper end wall portion of said bellows member havingan axial valve aperture adapted to be closed by a human digit in pushingsaid bellows member downa wardly to actuate said pump.

3. A pump, comprising a resilient rubber-like tubular bellows memberhaving a lower side wall portion with a plurality of annularcorrugations, a tubular combined valve housing and guide received withinsaid lower side wall portion in concentric closely spaced guidingrelation thereto, means seeming the lower end of said bellows member tosaid combined valve housing and guide in sealing relation thereto, saidcombined valve housing and guide having an upper end wall with an axialoutlet port therethrough, a check valve member within said combinedvalve housing and guide and movable over the lower end of said port, aspring in said combined valve housing and guide and biasing said checkvalve member toward its closed position over said port, said rubberlikebellows member having a generally cylindrical upper side wall portion,and a rigid tubular liner received within said upper side wall portionand receivable over said combined valve housing and guide, said upperend wall portion of said bellows member having an axial valve apertureadapted to be closed by a human digit in pushing said bellows memberdownwardly.

4. A pump, comprising a resilient rubber-like tubular bellows memberhaving a lower side wall portion with a plurality of annularcorrugations, a tubular combined valve housing and guide received withinsaid lower side wall portion in concentric closely spaced guidingrelation thereto, means securing the lower end of said bellows member tosaid combined valve housing and guide in sealing relation thereto, saidcombined valve housing and guide having an upper end wall with an axialoutlet port therethrough, a check valve member within said combinedvalve housing and guide and movable over the lower end of said port, aspring in said combined valve housing and guide and biasing said checkvalve member toward its closed position over said port, said rubberlikebellows member having an upper end wall with a generally axial inletport therethrough for closure by a human digit in pushing said bellowsmember downwardly.

5. A pump adapted to be mounted on an externally threaded bushing, saidpump comprising a generally cupshaped pump casing adapted to be receivedwithin said bushing and having an external annular flange on the upperend thereof, a gasket ring under said flange and adapted to engage theupper end of said bushing, an internally threaded cap adapted to bereceived on the upper end of said bushing for clamping said casingdownwardly with said gasket against said bushing, said casing having anapertured lower wall, a resilient rubber-like tubular bellows memberreceived within said casing and having a longitudinally collapsiblelower side wall portion with a plurality of annular corrugations, saidbellows member having an inturned annular flange at its lower end, ahollow valve housing received within said lower side wall portion, meansfor mounting said valve housing on said lower casing wall with saidinturned flange of said bellows member clamped between said valvehousing and said lower casing wall, said valve housing having an upperend wall with an axial outlet port therethrough, a check valve memberwithin said valve housing and movable over the lower end of said port, aspring in said valve member and biasing said check valve member towardits closed position over said port, said cap having a top wall with anaxial aperture therethrough, said rubber-like bellows mem her having agenerally cylindrical upper side wall portion extending through saidaperture in said cap and surmounted by an upper end wall portion, saidupper side wall portion having an external flange engageable with saidcap to limit upward expansion of said bellows member, and a rigidtubular liner received within said upper side wall portion andreceivable over said valve housing, said upper end wall portion of saidbellows member having an axial inlet port therethrough adapted to beclosed by a human digit in collapsing said bellows member.

6. A pump, comprising a generally cylindrical pump casing, a resilientrubber-like tubular bellows member received within said casing andhaving a lower side wall portion with a plurality of annularcorrugations, said bellows member having an inturned annular flange atits lower end, a tubular valve housing received within said lower sidewall portion and having a downwardly facing shoulder adjacent its lowerend, said pump casing having a lower wall with an axial aperture, saidpump casing having upper wall means with an axial opening therein, atubular retaining member extending through said axial aperture in saidlower wall of said pump casing and threaded into the lower end of saidvalve housing and having a head engaging the lower side of said lowerwall to draw said valve housing downwardly and thereby clamp saidinturned flange of said bellows member between said lower wall and saidshoulder, said valve housing having an upper end wall with an axialoutlet port therethrough, a check valve member within said valve housingand movable over the lower end of said port, a spring between said checkvalve member and said retaining member for biasing said check valvemember toward its closed position over said port, said rubber-likebellows member having a generally cylindrical upper side wall portionextending through said axial opening in said upper wall means andsurmounted by an upper end wall portion, and a rigid tubular linerreceived within said upper side wall portion and receivable over saidvalve housing, said liner having an external annular flange at its lowerend, said bellows member having an internal annular groove for receivingsaid flange on said liner, said upper end wall portion of said bellowsmember having an axial valve aperture adapted to be closed by a humandigit in pushing'said bellows member downwardly to actuate said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS105,890 Bennett Aug. 2, 1870 285,477 Garsed Sept. 25, 1883 330,221Garsed Nov. 10, 1885 738,518 Bernz Sept. 8, 1903 1,030,465 FlitcroftJune 25, 1912 2,701,672 Glasco Feb. 2, 1955

